The participants in the State of the Art Conference and other IAAAM members not in attendance were requested to complete a ten statement opinion survey and questionnaire. The opinion statements were selected from discussions the editors had with IAAAM members and the speakers prior to the conference. They intentionally focused on issues which were thought to be controversial in order to inspire open, frank discussion and encourage an opportunity to document differences of opinion among aquatic health specialists. The questionnaire was designed to survey the conference audience so that it could be characterized with regard to its experience in the aquatic animal health field.

The audience polled consisted of veterinarians, researchers, biologists, government officials and representatives from fields closely related to the aquatic animal profession (aquaculture, manufacturing, oceanariums/aquariums, etc.). The apparent trends and opinions in these results must not be considered a consensus of opinion among the aquatic animal medicine, or health, professionals. Rather, they can be considered indicative of the thinking of a select group of highly specialized professionals about a highly specialized and diverse subject.

We the editors are hopeful that the following will inspire further discussion between potentially conflicting areas, which should lead to a continuing communication and an eventual consensus of opinion for the good of the aquatic animal health field.

Opinion Survey: Results

(Eds. Note: The following are the results from the opinion survey circulated at the conference and from a supplementary mail-out. There were 124 forms distributed at the conference, with an additional mail-out of 75 to IAAAM members not in attendance. Of the 199 possible responses, 24 were returned as undeliverable. A total of 79 survey forms were returned, giving a 45% response. Results for each statement are given as a percent of the whole (79). Although unsolicited, comments were written on the form usually describing reasons or conditions for the indicated answer. These comments follow each statement in their original form and are grouped according to the four response categories.)

1.	Agree	Disagree	Undecided	No Ans.
Persons who provide health services for aquatic animals should be licensed and/or certified by the state in which they practice.	36%	36%	15%	4%

Agree

Should fall under Vet Practice Acts and does in some states.

I agree if you delete "certified by the state"

Need to resolve problem of how to certify qualified non-DVM persons who service fish health field.

Disagree

Opens door for politicians. Poor idea unless a broad gray area is considered. Just another method of pseudo-experts to be a success through drinking parties.

Beyond the established licensing for educational standards, any further regulations by government agencies should be avoided, though self-regulation within the field is desirable.

Mammals and Birds -- Yes! -- Fish No!

Only in the resident state. Licensing in one state is sufficient.

Regarding people who provide health care, I firmly believe that individuals other than veterinarians should be included. The maintenance of animals in captivity requires more than medical services. People versed in husbandry, nutrition, behavior and natural history of animals should be included.

Fishes and cold blooded invertebrates represent a group which needs separate consideration from mammals.

2 .	Agree	Disagree	Undecided	No Ans.
Facilities utilizing aquatic animals and aquatic animal medicine are best managed by trained administrators with business backgrounds.	28%	56%	14%	2%

Agree

Provided the chief administrator is guided by a governing board and the goals and objectives of the institute are outlined and followed. Otherwise, I disagree.

Such management would be desirable provided there is excellent communication between business managers and biology managers.

3.	Agree	Disagree	Undecided	No Ans.
Regulations regarding aquatic animal medicine should be administered by a single governmental agency.	69%	15%	13%	3%

Agree

The profession is faced with severe pending legislation which will affect all of us. An international organization representing our interest is a primary problem.

Disagree

Should be under State Practice Acts.

No government agency in medicine.

Undecided

 May be too out of touch.

4.	Agree	Disagree	Undecided	No Ans.
The bulk of research costs should be absorbed by the industry utilizing aquatic animals and not government grants.	19%	59%	19%	3%

Agree

 Research costs for the aquaculture industry should be borne by that industry, though research for protecting, managing and maintaining wild populations might be financed by the government

Disagree

 Government should lead

 Additional industries must be developed

Undecided

 Jointly

 If there is no economic benefit to an industry sponsor

No Answer

 Research costs should be covered by the industry for all research into providing for the better care and well-being of animals in captivity; but other kinds of research should receive general support from other agencies

5.	Agree	Disagree	Undecided	No Ans.
The direction of research in aquatic animal medicine is limited to too few species at the present time. It should be broadened to encompass more species and focus on disease as a phenomenon instead.	69%	18%	10%	3%

Agree

 This is a rhetorical statement and everyone must agree, just as if motherhood and apple pie were good things.

 Need to consolidate various aquatic animal health fields to provide cross fertilization between specialists (immunologists, parasitologists, virologists, etc.) in mammalian, fish and crustacean health.

 Availability of species.

 Aquatic animal medicine must retain its divisions into mammal and non mammalian medicine. The two types are related solely through their interest in similar environments, but the whole medical approach is completely different.

 Financial support for basic research on the diseases and parasites of free living marine mammals (including stranded animals) should be available. This should take priority over research concerning captive animals.

 The industry and veterinarians should make a concerted effort to understand the habits and environmental conditions in which the animals live in the wild. Thus more funding for the ecological approaches to investigation of disease and physiology.

 All veterinarians practice a form of environmental physiology but report information with little reference to the environmental conditions which set up stress.

 Major priority: develop these animals as an experimental model; e.g., hematology and clotting; phylogenetic evolution.

Disagree

 A more concentrated effort to collectively pursue baseline data is desperately needed.

 Focus should be on management of aquatic animal health!

 Agree

 For the present

 Undecided

 Within reason

6.	Agree	Disagree	Undecided	No Ans.
Aquaculture should be given the highest priority for project funding for aquatic animal medicine.	45%	33%	21%	1%

Agree

 For the present

Undecided

 Within reason

7.	Agree	Disagree	Undecided	No Ans.
There is no need for a journal or abstract index dealing specifically with aquatic animal medicine.	6%	82%	12%	0%

Agree

 No journal; yes to abstract index. Need to consider joint meeting and/or publication between IAAAM, Wildlife Disease Association, Fish Health Section, Mariculture-Crustacean Health groups, etc.

 At this time.

Disagree

 Too broad a category.

 Strongly.

 The association (IAAAM) should start a data bank on all marine mammal articles -- research and treatment. State by state encourages reprints of all research to be sent in and filed. Then a library would be formed to correlate the information. Other countries should be encouraged to send in articles.

 The organization should assume responsibility and thereby obtain recognition and the lead role (which it should have) in all phases of marine medicine.

 No need for journal -- need an abstract service, i.e. Bias.

 Too much information (normal values, observations, etc.) is held by individuals in oceanaria, etc. More cooperation and effort needs to exist to compile normal value data for marine mammals.

8.	Agree	Disagree	Undecided	No Ans.
There is no need for a journal or abstract index dealing specifically with aquatic animal medicine.	32%	56%	10%	2%

Agree

 It already is.

 Agree!

 More cooperation between the veterinarian and the scientist. Why cause the same gap that did occur in human medicine and physiology.

Disagree

 It is veterinary medicine.

 Encompasses a variety of disciplines.

Undecided

 Delete word "medicine," 'Substitute word "health" in the statement.

9.	Agree	Disagree	Undecided	No Ans.
The field of aquatic animal medicine should be considered a distinct and separate profession.	76%	15%	9%	0%

Agree

 But it gets you nowhere -- down the line the same thing occurs.

 On occasion (Eds. note: there were two such responses.)

 Economically more feasible...but ethically?

 Almost always true. But this is not humane nor feasible.

 True of all species except man.

Disagree

 At our institution we have never put monetary value on any of our animals and we try to provide all with the best care according to our abilities.

 Strongly.

Undecided

 Marine mammal or fish? (two such responses)

10.	Agree	Disagree	Undecided	No Ans.
All of the above statements represent the priority needs faced by the aquatic animal medicine profession and industry. If not, please list your recommendations on reverse side.	13%	28%	24%	35%

Disagree

 O.K., but you will have to wait awhile-- at least for as long a time as it took to think up and create this questionnaire (opinion survey).

 Recommendations:
Controlling introduction and spread of exotic fish pathogens is a top priority need.
Development of new and efficacious biologics and vaccines for fish diseases, and getting these products licensed is a top priority need.
Quality diagnostic services are still not available to many areas of the U.S. Fish farmers deserve the same quality of diagnostic services that are available to other livestock species.

 Effect of hunting and fishing and collection on genetics of wild populations.

 Artificial environments Nutrition Preventive medicine.

 This field is too broad to categorize in a brief questionnaire. (Eds. Note: The writer illustrated relationships between Animal Health and categories of aquatic species as mammals, fish, turtles, invertebrates and their research needs. Briefly he divided "needs" into Diagnostic Services, Education and Research. He further subdivided Research needs into Therapy, Prevention, Stress and Environment, Nutrition and Management and Husbandry.)

 Medicine and disease should extend to field studies, and stock and number studies.

 Improvement in the education of the aquatic veterinarian -- the present acquisition of training is a difficult (unnecessarily) process.

 More effective utilization of the experience and knowledge of laymen in a manner which esteems them, rather than belittles.

 More programs needed to educate the industry personnel regarding aquatic animal medicine.

 Aquatic Animal Diagnostic Service needed.

 Aquatic animal education in veterinary curricula.

 Support of IAAAM by industry and commercial sources. Possibility of obtaining institutional, industrial and/or commercial memberships.

 Need public relations of aquatic animal medicine and/or IAAAM.

No Answer

 Who said so? The big problem on the horizon is (i.e., 18 to 36 months from now) the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).

 "Aquatic animal" requires definition -- to me, it is any animal, single celled or multicellular, living predominantly in water. IAAAM's interests are: mammals, birds, poikilotherm vertebrates and questionably the higher multicellular invertebrates.

 Involvement of disease in wild populations.

Questionnaire: Results

(Eds. Note: The following are the results from a questionnaire circulated at the conference and from a supplementary mail-out. There were a total of 124 forms distributed at the conference, with a mailing of 75 additional forms to IAAAM members not in attendance. Of the 199 possible responses, 24 were returned as undeliverable. A total of 78 questionnaires were returned, giving a 45% response. These were divided into four main groups, designated as: Veterinarians (Vet), Researchers (Res), Directors or Curators of an aquarium or oceanarium (Dir/Cur), and Non-Professionals (Non), those who answered "no" to question one. Individual responses were then tabulated for each group and appear as the total number of responses (not per cent!) under their respective heading, with N/A denoting "No Answer." Written responses are direct quotations, except where paraphrasing was necessary for the sake of brevity.)

Are you professionally involved in aquatic animal medicine?

Yes: 92% (71)		No: 9% (7)
How? - Veterinarians	Total 25	Researcher	Total 30
Consultant	14	University	15
Staff veterinarian	7	Industry	8
Research	2	Consultant	1
Instructor	2	Government	3
		Misc	3

Director/Curator of Aquarium or Oceanarium - Total 16

Director - 6
Curator - 10
Keeper - 0

Involvement of Non-Professional - Total 7

As an interest - 5
Seeking future employment - 2

What is your primary interest in aquatic animal medicine?

Veterinarians		Researchers
Marine Mammal Health	19	Marine Mammal Health	5
Fish Health	0	Fish Health	11
Marine Mammal and Fish Health	4	Marine Mammal and Fish Health	3
Educating Professional	2	Aquaculture Practice	8
		Aquatic Chemistry	1
		Drug Research	2

Directors/Curators		Non-Professional
Marine Mammal Health	4	Comparative Animal Medicine	1
Fish Health	6	Fisheries	2
Marine Mammal and Fish Health	5	Access to Knowledge/Field	2
Education/Exhibits	1	Marine Mammal	1
		Marine Mammals and Fish Health	1

How long have you been associated with aquatic animal medicine?

	Number	Total Years	Average Years
Veterinarians	25	231	9.24
Researchers	30	313	10.4
Directors/Curators	16	188	11.8
Non-Professionals	7	46.3	6.61

(Eds. Note: Non-Professional involvement is as interest and was not given as active or direct involvement. One individual in this category has been interested for over 25 years.)

What is the most pressing need of aquatic animal medicine today?

(Eds. Note: Due to the extreme diversity of the responses, we felt that it was impossible to categorize them further without diluting their content. They are not organized in any order of relative importance.)

Veterinarians: N/A - 2

 Meeting the medical needs of the mariculture and aquaculture industries and marketing these services.

 Clinical treatment and public relationship.

 Coordination of information gathering; public oriented approach. Simple and safe means of restraint; and the approval of new drugs for use in fish and aquatic mammals.

 The unification of the professionals of aquatic animal medicine in order to provide progressive direction in all aspects of aquatic medicine (fish and mammals)

 Increase in basic biological areas / Reproduction (2 such responses)

 To cross the barrier between so as to aid biologists in the field.

 Research (2 such responses)

 More specimens to work on.

 More research in problem areas as well as establishment of normal

 Parameters as a resource

 Study diseases occurring in captive aquatic animals.

 Improved management for exhibit and propagation.

 Fish -- Training clinically oriented people to provide service to the producer or hobbyist

 Mammal -- Recognition of the effect of disease processes on wild populations by those responsible for administration of those populations. More involvement in regulatory agencies. It will be a short time before governmental agencies will be regulating the field.

 Diagnosis and therapy. Effect of EPA on aquatic animal medicine.

 Accumulation of literature for clinical uses, i.e., anatomy, physiology, medicine

 Husbandry and preventive medicine of captive animals. Causes of death research in wild marine mammals.

 Pooling of all available information.

 Stable artificial environment and constant supply of adequate and known nutrition. Take care of these two and you'll have less need for medicine.

 To train more veterinarians.

 Define and develop the specialization for the needs of industry, education and government.

Researchers: N/A - 3

 Diagnostic procedures specific for the dolphin which allow detection and evaluation of the 10 most serious health problems.

 Basic and quantitative information.

 Diagnostic services.

 To establish veterinarians as a resource in aquaculture.

 Prevention and control of disease of fishes and invertebrates used in aquaculture.

 Unification of the diverse interests; a single voice for those interests and demonstration of since professional leadership.

 Prevention (of disease)

 Money for research equipment and personnel (2 such responses).

 Adequate registration and/or approval of drugs and chemicals by EPA/FDA for use in aquaculture.

 Basic research in aquatic animal medicine.

 Standards for physical diagnosis and accepted treatments.

 Development of new, efficacious therapeutics and immunizing agents. Instigation of control measures to prevent further introduction of exotic pathogens and interstate spread of these pathogens.

 Communication between professionals in aquatic animal medicine and between aquatic animal medicine professionals and the industries they serve.

 A clear definition of what a drug does, how it works, and under what environmental conditions it works best (examples: pH, sal., temp., etc.).

 Improved diagnosis and drugs developed for fish specifically.

 Less competition between administrations of the public park industry and more open sharing of information and less denials of problems.

 Financial support for basic research on wild and captive marine mammals.

 Baselines!

 Meetings such as this with exchange of ideas and identification of major problems. Also, federal financial support for additional research.

 Dissemination of information.

 Certification of fish health specialists to diagnose and prescribe. Registration of drugs and chemicals for aquatic animal health use.

 New compounds and their approval by federal agencies.

 Less governmental, or a more responsive government in, licensing or approving biologicals and pharmaceuticals.

 A more effective communication link between workers; i.e. journal newsletter.

 Determination of the norm.

 Diagnosis, understanding stress and methods of control.

Director/Curators

 Probably preventive treatment through improving the environment, diet .and natural immunological responses of these animals.

 Communication.

 Knowledge of drug idiosyncracies. Social interaction (considering the potential of T. truncatus). Standardization and implementation of holding quality.

 Research in breeding, dietary and general husbandry techniques to take care of the animals that are now in captivity.

 Trained fish medicine people; training course for fish medicine.

 More information / knowledge (2 such responses)

 Financed research -- animal husbandry and medicine.

 Probably control of aquaculture disease.

 Money for research.

 Organization.

 The most pressing need of our institution is a better way of treating stranded seals and dolphins so more live than die. A published index of works already accomplished would be invaluable.

 Recognition, diagnosis and treatment of marine and freshwater fish diseases that can be accomplished easily by the amateur and professional fish keepers.

 Preventive medicine.

Non-Professionals

 Basic research on these animals.

 Cooperation among those in the field; effective dissemination of information

 Central data bank (2 such responses)

 Educational programs for "aspiring young talent." Baseline data and communication.

 For tropical fish: more factual or scientifically determined treatments rather than some of the "witchcraft" dispensed by fish stores.

What research is needed in this field?

(Eds. Note: "Highly Specific Program" in this section and in #6 denotes precisely defined and highly specialized topics for research, and usually reflects the individual's own interests.)

	Vets	Res.	Dir./Cur.	Non
Preventive Medicine	2	1	0	0
Disease Control/Diagnosis	7	5	1	0
Baseline Data/Basic Biology	4	3	4	1
Aspects of Wild Populations	3	2	0	0
New Drugs/Vaccines	1	5	1	0
Environmental Problems of Captivity	0	3	1	1
Highly Specific Program	0	5	6	1
Nutritional/Biomedical	6	0	0	0
N/A	2	6	3	4

What are the educational needs of aquatic animal medicine?

	Vets	Res.	Dir./Cur.	Non
Continuing Education Programs	6	5	2	1
More Practical Experience	1	1	0	1
Dissemination of Information	2	0	1	1
Expand Existing Programs	9	12	3	2
Better Use of Existing Programs	3	4	0	0
Highly Specific Program	1	1	5	0
N/A	3	7	5	2

Is there a need for an association based upon-aquatic animal medicine?

	Vets	Res.	Dir./Cur.	Non
Yes	24	26	15	7
No	1	0	0	0
Maybe	0	0	1	0
N/A	0	4	0	0

If so, how would such an organization meet your expectations?

Veterinarians

 The IAAAM is currently meeting the needs. (11 such responses)

 The IAAAM has lost its original momentum and direction. It is not an international association dealing in clinical medicine.

 Biology precedes medicine; this aspect should be integrated (into such an organization)

 The IAAAM is adequate for these purposes, but in fact has no international vision at all. It is totally U.S. oriented, which is a defect. (2 such responses)

 The IAAAM should take the leadership in this field -- by better spreading information on the advancements in the field. Association with the organization should carry some credibility. (4 such responses)

Researchers

 Publish reports, communications and interaction among professionals . (4 such responses)

 Locate and distribute information on available job positions

 More emphasis on fish diseases.

 IAAAM is working well. (4 such responses)

 IAAAM meets my expectations for marine mammal medicine. The Fish Health Section of the AFS (American Fisheries Society) meets my expectations for fish medicine

 I feel you may want to consider a closer relationship with the World Mariculture Society.

 I believe that IAAAM is moving towards it (my expectations; perhaps (through) the addition of non-veterinarians such as professional biologists and chemists and behavioral scientists.

 The organization should include both medicine and of marine animals.

 With the development of commercial farming of aquatic animals, the need for a more sophisticated association may increase.

 Yes, if it combines IAAAM, fish health and crustacean health groups, also the wildlife disease groups.

 We need more cooperation among the interest groups -- perhaps even consolidation of groups into a single group.

 Could expand it (the IAAAM) to more activities.

 By providing a professional forum for the allied interests, by speaking with a unified voice for those interests, and by fostering professionalism in all aspects of those interests.

 The present one is O.K., but is too oriented towards mammals. We need a broader approach and larger membership input. We need to overcome the vet vs. non-vet confrontation. I think it's getting better, but it still exists.

 Yes, provided such an organization could do more than duplicate existing groups such as the FHS/AFS (Fish Health Section/American Fisheries Society); that it include all aspects of aquatic animal medicine including marine aquaculture; and that its membership be open to all, including non-veterinarians.

Directors/Curators

 By dealing with specific programs and research in this field and not vague generalizations.

 All seminars and lectures could be sent to members unable to attend meetings.

 Standardization of treatments and dosages for the more common diseases.

 Possibly, or shift and merge with American Association of Zoo Veterinarians.

 By providing a focal point for the profession through correspondence, conferences, journals, and possibly abstract services. (5 such responses.)

 An association should provide up-to-date information on the state-of-the-art.

 If an organization is based primarily upon the clinical medicine needs of aquatic animals, I believe the outlook is too parochial and I do not believe my organization would be a participant.

Non-professionals

 The IAAAM is meeting my expectations. (2 such responses)

 Information dissemination (2 such responses)

 By coordinating the dispensation of knowledge and findings; instigating and assisting training programs; lobbying the veterinary viewpoint in animal protection and other legislation; guiding the profession in diplomatically assisting the laymen while calling on their knowledge, rather than replacing them.

Is there a need for an aquatic animal medicine journal?

	Vets	Res.	Dir./Cur.	Non
Yes	18	14	13	6
No	5	7	3	0
Maybe	2	6	0	0
N/A	0	3	0	1

Veterinarians

 JAVMA (Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association) can serve this need.

 Probably is still a little premature. (2 such responses)

 This field is adequately provided for by veterinary and wildlife disease journals.

 Also an index of resources (is needed)

 (Should be) practice related and to give out information similar to the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians Journal.

 On the international level.

Researchers

 Marine mammal yes; Fish, no need.

 Useful if sectionalized (Mammalia, Aves, etc.)

 Maybe. The new Journal of Fish Diseases has filled a place but a journal for all aquatic animals might have a place.

 Numerous journals are already available and provide this format for information exchange. (4 such responses)

 No, but one would be useful.

 I don't think there would be enough quality articles to support a journal on aquatic animal medicine.

 Yes , to lessen the problems of searching many different journals . AVMA wildlife issue supplies (this) need.

 A central source of information is essential in a field as sporadic and diverse as aquatic animal medicine.

 No, but there may be a need to participate in abstracting services.

Curators/Directors

 This could integrate the much scattered literature on the subject.

 Not necessarily; reprint service more comprehensive.

 Yes. Unfortunately limited by interested parties.

 Would be useful

 Yes. A published index of works already accomplished would be invaluable

 Yes, though the need has been partially met by the Journal of Fish Pathology.

Non-professionals

 It would assist dissemination of knowledge and potentially improve communication.

Should the field of aquatic animal medicine be considered an industry?

	Vets	Res.	Dir./Cur.	Non
Yes	7	6	4	0
No	11	17	6	3
Maybe	2	2	3	3
N/A	5	5	3	1

Veterinarians

 Perhaps the food producing area -- not the marine mammals.

 A professional subspecialty or subspecialty of many professions.

 Is human medicine considered an industry?

 Medicine and disease are a branch of biology.

 Yes -- so that a unified effort can be put forth to improve and develop the state of aquatic animal medicine.

 Yes -- if doing so heightens the awareness of both the public and the government of the magnitude of the field's contributions and needs.

 It may be a part of the industry, not the industry itself.

Researcher

 It already is -- fish especially.

 Not necessarily; there are many university and government programs in aquatic animal medicine and (they) cannot be called an industry.

 Industry" does not seem to be an appropriate term for the practice of medicine. (2 such responses)

 Not at this time. The need is adequately met by veterinarians specializing in this field, and through cooperation with research at universities.

 Not in the classical sense of industry, but as a specialty field of professionals. (3 such responses)

 It is a profession and industry.

 It is a service/support industry. (2 such responses)

 It is not and should not become a commercially packaged product.

 Aquaculture (includes the culture of all aquatic animals) is an industry indirectly supported by our expertise.

 No. It is a group of allied professions.

 A part of it is industry or business.

 Absolutely consider aquatic animals as an industry. Aquatic animal medicine should be considered a profession.

Directors/Curators

 On the level of aquaculture as a business, yes. For public aquariums, no.

 It is a profession.

 There is certainly a need for one, however marine mammals represent only a small fraction.

 Definitely; world food production will eventually depend on ocean sources.

 It should include pure research findings and not be termed an industry.

Non-professionals

 No. No medicine is an industry. Aren't aquatic animals already an industry, and should we call it what it is?

What are the moral or ethical considerations that aquatic animal medicine should be concerned with?

	Vets	Res.	Dir./Cur.	Non
Same as any other medical veterinary practice	9	6	1	1
N/A	5	9	10	4

Veterinarians

 Sharing new and workable information.

 Its major concern should be to supply humane care to the animals in holding facilities, and in the transporting and capture of animals.

 Humane handling, treatment and breeding and the willingness to "hang out" mistakes.

 Medicine should (only) be practiced by experience and qualified veterinarians in this field

 Providing food material, conservation, environmental protection, and assist in policy for governmental agencies.

 The welfare of captive animals and the environmental significance of their capture. Ensuring that wildlife biologists do not harm wild animals through inadequate medical techniques. Comparative medical aspects.

 Extending the studies of aquatic animals to their fullest so they cover all aspects of a given species.

 That professionals in the industry should place forth the health care of aquatic animals as the foremost objective. The individuals should exhibit the highest standards of professionalism in dealing with each other in regard to health care problems and exchange of ideas, data and solutions concerning these problems. Capture and captivity of animals. When do the economics of the situation dictate euthanasia vs. continued treatment.

 Supporting industries which use aquatic animals only for personal gain. More data should be used in wildlife management.

 The proper care and uses of marine mammals. To remove an eye from a dolphin merely to determine the optic pathways is a bit in question and should be reviewed.

Researcher/Biologists

 Removing quacks from the aquaculture/health area.

 Veterinarians should not attempt to exclude biologists from the field.

 Certification of non-DVM specialists in aquatic animal health to resolve potential and actual conflicts with Veterinary Practices Acts.

 Close cooperation with wildlife biologists. These individuals often function at salaries not acceptable to veterinarians and serve to identify problems and monitor effectiveness of programs.

 The moral and ethical issues of allowing endangered marine mammals to be used for display and tourism industries should be carefully examined.

 Animal health should be of more concern to the park industry than a pure cost basis.

 If aquatic food animals are concerned, considerable care should be taken in applying any medication.

 I don't think that only veterinarians should be allowed to practice fish medicine and I don't think that a fish practitioner should have to pass a licensing exam for each state in which he might want to practice. I do think that qualified individuals should receive a certificate stating they are qualified fish and/or marine mammal practitioners and I am leaning toward favoring some state control over quack practitioners.
Disease control in wild populations of aquatic animals. Conservation of wild stocks. Humane husbandry and health care for captive aquatic animals.

 Honesty in packaging of drugs by manufacturers.

 There has to be a hierarchy; porpoises would be dealt with differently (a higher level) than fishes. Fishes more so than oysters, etc.

 Don't condemn non-veterinarians in the field since veterinarians are reluctant to fill the available niche.

 Concern for the individual animal, the individual species, and the interaction with man

 Conservation of disease-free stocks of aquatic animals. Humane treatment of captive animals at oceanaria. Good modern health care of captive animals. Building a foundation of knowledge concerning wild aquatic animals.

Curators/Directors

 Preserving life of captive and wild aquatic animals.

 Early detection of the symptoms of disease.

 Control of exploitation of sentient species.

 Maintain credibility.

 Long range effects of medication on micro-fauna and flora, and effects on the aquatic habitat. Responsibility of concerned individuals for the future environment -- macro and micro.

Non-professionals

 Expendable animals vs. humane treatment of disease in captive animals. Offending the layman.

 The importance of conservation of the organisms should remain a priority, instead of just economic feasibility. This is why vets and non-vets should work together to combine knowledge and experience for the organisms' best interests.

Please list over major concerns that aquatic animal medicine should have.

	Vets	Res.	Dir./Cur.	Non
N/A	15	14	9	7

(Eds. Note: The following are those responses to this question which were not given as an answer to any proceeding question and thus provide additional material for thought. It is interesting to note that over 57% of the individuals polled had no response.)

Veterinarians

 Central organizational structure for education and development of the profession.

 Ecological concerns. (2 such responses)

 Retrain professionals; supervise lay involvement to prevent misinterpretation of disease and diagnosis as was evident at this meeting from the presentations.

 There should be more involvement by the organization in federal legislation.

 To determine the relevance and impact of disease in wild populations. To improve longevity in captive marine mammals.

 To ensure that research workers using aquatic animals are using "normal" specimens

 Meshing the knowledge of biologist and other professionals in the field to assure the fullest understanding of the species.

Researchers

 Working with the National Marine Fisheries Service and other agencies to see that the best interests of marine animals are maintained.

 Joint programs with other fish groups to-avoid duplication of effort.

 Ways to encourage research and involvement of industry in the proper registration of drugs and chemicals needed in aquatic animal health.

 Identification of problems limiting development of additional aquatic animal farming and attempting to develop control programs.

 An awareness of the total needs in the area of conservation and legislative action on endangered marine mammals.

 The field of Environmental Medicine is becoming more and more prevalent (in human medicine). In the field of animal medicine this has not yet occurred.

 Pathophysiology of beachings (stranded marine mammals).

 Prevent the introduction of exotic species and diseases into the United States -- their transmission throughout the world.

 Sponsoring procedures for collecting animals (international), husbandry, and medical care. Working with other groups to achieve these goals.

 Public education about the health and husbandry requirements of aquatic animals.

 A greater exchange of data among members or interested parties. No sense in everybody floundering around in the dark by themselves. Let's all flounder around together.

 Help to aquaculture industry, giving assistance immediately -- let's educate the industry as to our abilities.

 A concise definition of what animals are included in the term. As it stands, the term includes any animal -- e.g., Amoeba proteus-- and that, although zoologically correct, is most unrealistic.

Directors/Curators

 Over saturation of professionals.

 Concern over diseases that can be transmitted by aquatic systems to other surrounding areas -- even to terrestrial animals. Production of mutant or resistant life forms, to antibiotics and methods used to treat aquatic systems (i.e., ozone, UV light, other radiation).

 It is important that our work is an asset to the continuation of the wild populations and that we not contribute to their overall depletion.

 Aquatic animal medicine should be concerned with the total quality of animal care that animals in captive or cultural systems require. The term "aquatic animal medicine" is again too restrictive and cannot solve all of the problems associated with the cultural propagation and survival of aquatic animals as wild or captive populations.

Discussion

The goals of the opinion survey and questionnaire were to determine what general or specific areas of agreement existed within this diverse field. A secondary goal was to help provide some direction for the field as a whole. The opinion and questionnaire forms were designed to develop categories from the respondents' answers.

Several trends can be identified, although these do not represent a consensus of opinion. The most interesting, and predominant, is that there is a general lack of agreement regarding most topics. For example, the answers to the question about the most pressing need, research and education" tended to be highly specialized and usually slanted towards the respondent's own area of interest. Very few individuals used an overall approach to the field, thus making it difficult to establish any priority needs.

One of the most frequently mentioned "needs" was concerned with too restrictive legislation and regulation. Most felt that laws, particularly those concerned with drugs, their registration and application, were too restrictive and stifled growth. Many felt that simplification of governmental administration of these laws was necessary and greater participation by aquatic health specialists in the legislative process was much needed.

Almost all felt there was a need for an organization like the IAAAM. Although the IAAAM was often cited as doing a good job, some people expressed a need to improve on professional certification, professional credibility and more legislative involvement.

Several individuals with greater tenure felt that this organization (IAAAM) had "lost its original momentum" and should return to clinical medicine. Many of the researchers, however, were concerned about this attitude, feeling they should be allowed a fair chance at continued and open participation.

Finally, it was generally apparent there was a lack of agreement about the definition of key terms. The words professional, industry, field and medicine seemed to create some conflict and/or confusion, with little agreement about their usage.

The vast majority supported the need for a journal or abstract service dealing with aquatic animal medicine. However, many qualified their opinion by saying either that the need was met through existing journals or that establishing such a publication now would be premature.